Week 31 - Day up high for Didi and Me

Because Didi is starting full time school for the first time, to ease him in gently for the first two weeks he only has to go until 1pm, and in the first week, only every second day... so to make the most of our last day together, we decided to go up the Oriental Pearl Tower in Lujiazui.  Since I was last up there 4 years ago (when I was pregnant with Didi), they have added this sensational glass floor which is on an outside balcony.  I tell you, I never thought I suffered from a fear of heights, but my tummy leapt into my throat.  Didi wasn't very comfortable either as he reverted to crawling on the glass not walking. This photo just doesn't look real, and when I was taking it I couldn't look at what I was doing, but I love how it has turned out looking straight down the main pole of the Tower.

Week 29 - Shanghai Sea Wall

On a glorious sunny morning, we rose early to try and beat the heat and cycle from our home to the coast.  The ride was interesting along canals, through sleepy migrant villages, shanty towns, farmland and forests, over bridges and past a number of sights we didn't expect were so close to Shanghai. 

At the end of the 46.13km round trip, we were exhausted, and spent the afternoon in the air conditioned comfort of home.

Week 28 - Fishing Village

Would you believe this is Hong Kong??  

This is a village called Tai O on Lantau Island.  The houses are built on stilts in the river, which is on the mouth of the sea and at the foothills of the mountains.  It is largely a fishing village, and the walking streets are lined with vendors selling fresh and dried produce, and the canals are the residents backyards with laundry hanging and boats moored.  

As well as walking between the houses, and stopping at a cafe with a balcony over the river, we went on a boat trip through the village which took us out into the ocean, where we were lucky enough to see wild pink dolphins frolicking in the waves.

Week 27 - Paper Cut Outs

Just outside the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office there was a lady selling greeting cards with the most divine pop up cut outs of various Vietnamese scenes when you opened the card.  You can see the post office (in orange), Notre Dame Saigon (red), a vendor with her baskets of fruit and flowers and an elegant lady near a cyclo.  Of course I bought a few... wait for Christmas or have a baby to see if you are one of the lucky recipients!!

Week 25 - Beach Holiday

This is the private beach at Le Belhamy Beach Resort about 6km outside HoiAn in Vietnam.  We are stayed here for 2 weeks, and enjoyed the beach and blue sky every day!  You can see the Cham Islands out on the horizon, and the sun loungers under the shade umbrellas to give us somewhere to relax and the kids to play.  

What a wonderful holiday spot!! 

Week 24 - Water Puppets

We are on holidays in Vietnam for largely a beach holiday but we had 2 days in Hanoi and wanted to see as much as we could in the short time.  We didn't really know what to expect when we turned up for this show.  But we had front row seats, and so walked along, tempted to drag our hands in the water which was the stage.  Roi nuoc is a traditional Vietnamese art of water puppetry, where the puppeteers are also in the water, behind that green screen at the back of the set. 

The show went for about an hour with 12 short scenes, each telling a Vietnamese folk story, myth or legend set to traditional music. The puppets 'swam' through the water, and were cleverly manipulated to struggle and transform under water.  This scene is from a folk story of a carp turning into a dragon, Thang Long, which this particular puppet theatre was named after.

Week 23 - China Maritime Museum

We keep finding little gems even after 4 years here - this amazing building is the China Maritime Museum out past Pudong Airport in Shanghai. The heat of the day was conquered by the air conditioning inside.  We spent about 3 hours exploring this museum, which was deceptively huge, there were control rooms to play in, engines to adjust, models to look at, phones to talk into, films to watch and computer simulated welding and crane driving exercises.  

It was amazing, and the kids loved it too.

Week 18 - Water, not wine

After about an hour of running around, and scooting, and chasing balloons, and playing with friends and frisbees, Didi kicked me out of my armchair where we had been relaxing with friends and demanded a drink in my 'fancy cup' - very happy with water in a wine glass.

He looks quite at home really... lazy Saturday afternoons in a beer garden will probably feature in his future!!